Paper card · curated
Beta-glucan recognition by the innate immune system
Goodridge HS, Wolf AJ, Underhill DM
Immunological Reviews · 2009
Abstract excerpt
Beta-glucans from fungal cell walls are recognized by the innate immune system primarily through dectin-1, a C-type lectin expressed on macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils. Dectin-1 binding triggers Syk kinase activation and downstream signaling that induces phagocytosis, reactive-oxygen-species production, and cytokine release including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-23. The β-(1,3)/β-(1,6) glucan structural pattern is the key recognition motif; α-glucans (e.g., starch) are not recognized.
Excerpt from the published abstract. Full paper at the journal link below.
Joe's notes
How to read this paper
Best single reference for the dectin-1 mechanism. When you see a mushroom-supplement label cite β-glucan content as a percentage, this is the receptor pathway behind why it matters. α-glucan content (i.e., starch from grain substrate) doesn't engage this pathway.
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